Clamping device for electron tubes and the like



Feb. 8, 1949. A. CHIGER 2,461,198

CLAMPING' DEVICE FOR ELECTRON TUBES AND THE LIKE FiledJune 25, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT oral-cs CLAMPlNG DEVIQE FOR'ELEGTRQN TUBES a AND THE LIKE Arthur Chige'r, New York, N. Y., ass ig nor to Times Facsimile Corporation, New York, N. Y., a cornotation of New York Application 31111823, 1947, Serial No. 756,360

3 Claims. 1

invention relates to clamping devices and more especially it relates to devices for clamping in place, replaceable electric units of the :plug in A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified clam-p for holding electron tubes and the like in their plug-in sockets, so that they are incapable of bein-g'loosened by excessive jars or vibrations.

.A feature of the invention relates to a clamp which is'so constructed that such devices as electron tubes can be readily replaced and clamped in their socket receptacles without requiring special tools such as wrenches or screw-driverst'o release the clamp.

Another feature relates to an electron tube clamp which can be slidably adjusted in a vertical direction and locked in a definite vertical position without the use of thumb screws, 'set screws, or the like, which tend to become loose after continued vibration of the parts.

A further feature relates to a multiple electron tube clamp which can be locked in verticallyadjusted position and at any desired horizontal angular position with respect to a pedestal 'support, and without using set screws or the like.

A still further feature relates to the novel or-.- gamzation, arrangement and relative location of parts which cooperate to provide an improved electron tube clamp.

Other features and advantages not specifically enumerated will be apparent after a consideration of the following detailed descriptions and the appended claims.

In the drawings which show, by way of example, certain prefer-red embodiments,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a duplex electron tube clamp according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the duplex clamp of Fig. .1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a single clamp'corresponding to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a modification of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, there are shown, by way of example, two typical electron tubes l0, II which carry the usual base members l2, l3 and the usual plug-in prongs l4, l5. In the conventional way, the tubes are plugged-in to the usual contact receptacles or sockets I6, I! which are carried or mounted in the chassis l8 of the radio set or similar apparatus. In order that: the tubes can be readily inserted and removed as necessary, the sockets l6 are usually of the spring;-

contact type which frictionally engage the contact pins 14, I5. However it very frequently tion, thus destroying the effectiveness of the clamp. Furthermore with such set screw clamps, it is necessary to have available a wrench or screw-driver for the purpose of loosening or tightening the clamp when a tube is tube inserted or removed from its socket.

Furthermore, with such set screw devices, in

order that the set screw may be properly ftas tened, it is usually necessary to provide a flat-or key way against which the set screw can 'be tightened. This necessarily restricts the angular position of the clamping member around themport by which it is carried. The present finven tion provides an arrangement. which overcomes the disadvantages of the usual :set screw type or clamp. In accordance with the inventioathe clamp comprises in general a pedestal or rod 19 which is-arranged to be fastened in any suitable manner, for example by the tasteningimits 2.43, 2| to thechassis 58. If desired, the rod. 18' can be riveted or permanently attached to the chassis i8. In any event, it is fastened ho-the chassis at a point adjacent to the tube to be clamped. .In those cases where two tubes zarelocatedadjacent to each other, and as'lillustrated in Fig. 2, the rod Hi :can be attached to the chassis.

l8 at a point mid-way between the tube SOCKGES;

The clamping member proper lcompri ses a sheet metal strip- 22i which terminates at its end's in two integral annular members 23, 24, each annular member having. a. struck-up inclined. lip 25., 2'6.-which is et slightly'smaller inside diameterthan the diameters of the tops of the tubes: to it, so that the topof each tube ilits snugly within: the corresponding annular opening nf members 23 and 24. The usual radio hasia rounded top or dome, the periphery ofwhichr-aisr engaged by the. lip 12-5; or 26, when the member 22 is lowered into: contact with the said dome. The

yoke. portion 21: of. the member: has a central opening which islet very slightly-greater drama-- ter than that of the rod I9 so as to permit the member 22 and'its clamping rings 23, 24 to bereadily adjusted in a vertical direction along the rod l 9. However, in order to lock the member 22 in its adjusted position, the said member has integrally fastened to the yoke portion 21 thereof a U-shaped locking member 28, the horizontal arm 29 of which is welded or otherwise integrally fastened to the member 22, the other arm being normally inclined with respect to arm 29. The arms 29 and 36 have openings which are just slightly larger than the diameter of the rod 19. The plane of the opening in arm 30, instead of being perpendicular to rod I9, is inclined, and

since this opening is only very slightly larger than the diameter of rod l9, and because of the springy nature of the member 28, the left-hand edge of the opening bites into thesaidrrod and firmly holds the clamp in its adjusted position. The member 28 can be provided with oppositely extending integral gripping lugs 3|, 32 to facilitate release of the clamp.

When it is desired to release the clamp, all that is necessary is to press upwardly, as indicated by the arrow, against the lugs 31, 32. This pressure frees the edge of the opening in arm 30 from the rod l9 so that the clamp is free to slide vertically on the rod 19. If desired, the surface of rod 19 may be slightly roughened. When the clamp has been adjusted to the desired position, it is merely necessary to release the upward pressure on the lugs 3|, 32, with the result that arm 30 again springs back to its normal position Where it tightly engages the rod 19.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the clamp 22 can be used in any desired angular relation around the rod I9, depending upon the location of the tubes IE, I I. Preferably, the member 22 is of sheet metal stock having suificient springiness so that when the clamp is locked against the tubes, a somewhat resilient pressure is applied against the tubes.

It will be understood, of course, that while Figs. 1 and 2 show a clamp of the duplex type for simultaneously clamping two tubes, that the member 22 may carry three or more annular members similar to members 23 and 24, depending upon the number of tubes which are to be clamped.

It will also be understood that if desired, a single clamping member may be provided. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 3 wherein the member 28a, which corresponds to member 23 (Fig. 2) is formed as an integral piece with the retainer ring 240:. Thus as shown in Fig. 3, the parts 24a and 28a can be punched from a single metal strip with the portion 28a bent back upon itself to form the U-shaped clamping member. However, in this case both the arms 29a and 3011 are normally inclined with respect to the rod 19 so that the right-hand edges of the openings in both of the arms 29a and 30a bite into the rod I9.

To provide an easier manipulation of the clamp for releasing and locking purposes, it may be made of the form shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, the clamp is made from a single spring metal blank provided with a punched-out retainer ring portion 24b. The rest of this blank is bent back upon itself as indicated by the numerals 33, 34, to form a double thickness of metal, which double thickness is perforated to receive the rod 19. The metal blank is again bent back upon itself in the reverse direction to form the U-shaped portion 28a also having an opening to receive the rod 19. Preferably the end of the blank extends beyond the bent back portions 33 and 34 to provide an easy grip. When it is desired to release the clamp of Fig. 4, it is merely necessary to grip the portions 33 and35 between the fingers tobring the portion 35 substantially perpendicular to the rod 19, whereupon the clamp is free for sliding movement on the said rod.

7 While certain particular embodiments have 7 been disclosed herein, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for electron tubes and the like, comprising a single metal blank having an annular means defining a punched-out opening to register against the top of the electron tube to be clamped, and having a flexible strip portion which is bent back upon itself to substantially U-shape, the arms of the U having aligned openings, a rod passing through said openings, at least one of the arms of said U being normally inclined with respect to the rod to cause the edge of the opening therein to tightly engage the surface of said rod.

2. A duplex clamp for clamping a plurality of radio tubes in their respective sockets, said clamp comprising a metal strip having annular end portions each adapted respectively to engage the top of an electron tube, a yoke portion joining said annular portions, a rigid rod anchored at its lower end between said tubes to the common support for said tubes, said yoke portion having an opening to receive the upper end of said rod, a U-shaped spring metal strip carried by said yoke portion with the arms of the U having respective openings also to receive said rod, one of the arms of the U being normally inclined with respect to the rod to grip it tightly and adapted to be bent towards the opposing arm of the U to release said tight engagement.

3. A clamp for an electron tube and the like, comprising a rod arranged tov be fastened at its lower end to a fixed support which also supports the tube to be clamped, a tube clamping member having a portion extending outwardly from said rod and arranged to receive and abut against the upper end ofsaicl tube to be clamped, said member having a flexible strip extending from the marginal portion thereof and bent back upon itself to substantially U-shape, the arms of the U having aligned openings through which the upper end of said rod passes, at least one of the arms of said U being normally inclined with respect to the rod to cause the edge of the opening therein to tightly engage the surface of said rod, and to maintain said outwardly extending portion in flexible engagement with said upper end of the tube.

ARTHUR CI-IIGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Leuvelink Aug. 14, 1945 

